Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

mixed with queasiness because I didn’t want to see him. Not after my shocking revelation.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of him. It’s impossible not to when he’s one of the most popular students in our school.” And he’s also my bully.

But I couldn’t say that. My mom knew about the boy who bullied me, but I’d never told her his name. I hadn’t even told her much about him, keeping most of his relentless bullying under wraps. I couldn’t admit to her or Dad how horrible my school life was and destroy their image of me. They would most certainly think it would affect my grades and put more pressure on me to be a good student.

“Is he going to be there too?” I asked them, hoping my voice didn’t give anything away.

“Probably,” Mom said.

Just great. I should’ve insisted on staying home.

I had to force myself to breathe evenly as I looked through the window at the houses we passed. The difference between them and mine was clear-cut. These mansions looked like they came out of celebrity home magazines.

However, the Jones’ estate was in a class of its own. I did a double take of our surroundings when Dad passed through the ornate main gate and proceeded down a long, tree-lined driveway.

Holy moly.

It was an enormous property that told tales of money. The white brick and stone mansion in the distance was ten times bigger than my home. There was even a gigantic fountain with angels carrying water pots at the end of the driveway.

“They’re loaded,” I muttered, twisting my hands in my lap. I was getting more nervous with each second that took me closer to Blake’s home.

“Their house is beautiful,” my mom said, awe coating her words. “And huge.”

“You chose the wrong profession, Dad. You should’ve been a politician.”

He let out a chuckle as he parked the car in front of the entrance. “Not all politicians can afford this luxury. The Jones are one of the wealthiest families around here. Old money and such.”

“I can see that. This estate clearly cost a pretty penny,” I replied and got out of the car. My hands were becoming sweaty.

Only now did it dawn on me that I was going to meet Blake’s parents, and I felt curious but also intimidated. I’d been wondering what his parents were like for a long time. I couldn’t imagine them as sweet and warm people, seeing as they had a miscreant son.

I shouldn’t have been surprised to see a maid open the front door, but I was anyway. She was middle-aged and extremely polite, wearing a uniform that probably cost more than all the clothes I owned combined. She ushered us inside, and a gasp of surprise almost slipped through my lips.

Their foyer was an ostentatious display of their wealth with its marble floor, two grand staircases, and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everything was made in white and gold, and I wondered how they kept it so clean. I couldn’t keep my white sneakers spotless even for a day, so I could only imagine the amount of effort their maid had to put into cleaning.

She took us to a grandiose living room I could’ve easily gotten lost in, which was also made and furnished in white and gold. It was a lot to take in as my eyes darted from a white-tiled fireplace and decorations to a large wall-mounted TV and the white leather sectional couches that put our single three-seat couch to shame.

“Owen, it’s good to see you.” A man I recognized as Nathaniel Jones from the newspapers and TV programs approached us with a smile that was the epitome of charm. It was a nice and convenient mask he used for the public, but despite the refined appearance, there was something fishy about him.

Blake didn’t look anything like him, since Nathaniel was a lanky blond—seriously, does this man dye his hair?—with a huge nose and close-set green eyes beneath bushy eyebrows.

“I’m glad I’m able to finally meet your family. Thank you for joining us for dinner tonight.”

They shook hands, and Dad introduced my mom and me. I swiped my hand down my thigh, hoping it wasn’t as clammy as it felt, and shook his hand. His grip was firm; his smile never faltered as he assessed me, and I could barely look him in the eyes. Meeting new people and shaking hands with them had never been my strong suit.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jessica.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, sir,” I replied, trying to clear my throat. It was even more sore, and my nose had started running, which meant I would be down with a cold tomorrow.

His wife appeared behind him. She was a tall and classy brunette with a beautiful face that hadn’t aged at all. Now I knew whose looks Blake had inherited. He was his mother’s replica. She even had the same posture as Blake, with an air of cool indifference oozing out of her. It was like an invisible wall that shielded her. Her icy gray eyes that were so Blakeish locked on mine, and my breath caught.

“This is my lovely wife, Daniela,” Nathaniel said with a smile. I wrapped my fingers around her cold, slender hand and shook it shyly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said in a mellifluous voice, donning a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

I smiled back at her and retracted my hand quickly. I looked around the room to see if Blake would pop up from somewhere, but I came up short.

“Please excuse our son, Blake,” she said. “He is unable to attend our dinner since he has already made some other plans for tonight. He sincerely apologizes for his absence.”

Wow, she was so formal. The translated version: he was out partying and couldn’t have cared less about this stupid dinner.

And I doubted he ever apologized for it.

I was relieved that I didn’t have to see him, but I also felt a flicker of disappointment when I heard he